Mexico weekly ledger., 1887-07-28
GEORGE ADAMS is ACCUSED
OF A MURDER COMMITTED
IN KANSAS LAST MAY.
The Sheriff of Emporia, Kan, pays
Him a Visit and Thinks He
is the Man Wanted.
Adams Stoutly Denies His Guilt,
and There is a Possibility
of a Mistake.
A Ledger Reporter Interviews Sheriff
AtchisoB. DIR. French and dams
The Crime Committed.

The Crime Committed.
On the 25th of May last, a mys-
ferrous murder was committed at
Emporia, Kansas, a man named u. u.
Baxter, who belonged In Kansas City,
having been brutally butchered. A
man named Dell Smith was thought
to be the murderer, as he was last
seer with Baxter. The team of the
murdered man was driven 10 Kansas
City, where it was disposed of by a
man who answered Smiths descrip-
ton. At Kansas City, however, all
trace of the supposed murderer was
lost. beyond the fact learned that he
had left that place between the 9th
and 9th of June, it vas thought, on
foot.
The sheriff and other officers of
Emporia were led all over the coun-
try on wild goose chases after the
man Smith. but the right man was
never found, though a number
answering the description, partially,
we're arrested, held a few days, but
of course released, as they were not
wanted. A week or so ago, Sheriff
Atchison received a priated card from
Sheriff White, of Emporia. Kansas,
one of hundreds sent out-which
read something like this:
$500 REWARD
For the arrest of Dell Smith, who
murdered Z. L. Baxter, at Emporia
Kansas, May %. Description, 20 or
80 years old; 5 feet 5 OF 6 inches
high; weight, $50 or 155 pounds;
light hair, cut close to his head; light
sandy mustache wore a brown suit of
clothes; rather round face ; blue eyes.
The card says the man left Kansas
City June 10, on foot, but the 49,
was afterward marked out and "27''
put in it's place, ''by guess as
Sheriff White subsequently had oc-
ccasion to say.
The description is a perfect n of
George Adams, the survivor of
the Thompson railroad accident,
who lies at the home of a man named
Judd, in South Mexico, slowly re-
covering from the terrible injuries he
received on June "a. The only thing
in the way is that the card says the
man Smith left Kansas City on the
9th of June, while Adams was hurt
on the Oath, though Sheriff White
says the date was put on the card by
guess, and be would as soon believe
the man left Kansas City the 23rd, as
Adams says he did. 1t is reported
that Adams, when first picked up af-
ter the accident, gave his name as
Smith. TO say the least, the whole
affair looks bad for the injured man.
When Sheriff Atchison first read
the postal card, he thought the des-
cription suited Adams, and in COM
pany with DR.. French, visited him,
and found everything to tally per-
fectly. The Emporia Sheriff was ac-
cordingly ~telegraphed at once, and
after a few days, started for Mexico,
arriving here Saturday at noon. One
look at Adams satisfied the Sheriff,
and he returned home Sunday morn
ing for the purpose of bringing per-
sons here who knew Smith IN EN-
poria. White is certain he has
found Baxter's murderer.
In an interview with Sheriff At
Gibson yesterday, a LEDGER reporter
was told by that gentleman that
Adams choked and was otherwise
visibly affected when told of the
charges against hun, and the aecur-
acy of the description. He denied,
however, any knowledge of the crime,
though it is known that he had been
in Kansas about the time it was COM
mitted.
DIR. FRFNCH's STATEMENT.
DR.. French, who has had charge of
Adams since he was injured, knows
much of the man that has escaped